In an age of the direct market and solicitation copy available three months ahead of time, it's hard to truly pull a swerve on comic readers like publishers used to, but Valiant Entertainment may have pulled it off.

While fans have been waiting for Rafer Roberts and Darick Robertson's new team title Harbinger Renegadesdue next month, today Valiant announced the series' true title as Harbinger Renegade, and revealed that it introduces a dangerous new villain to the Valiant Universe ahead of 2018's major crossover event.

While fan-favorite characters like Faith, Torque and the rest of the Renegades will still play a part in the book, a big focus will be on the new villain Alexander Solomon. Solomon is described as a dangerous precog who was raised as a son by Valiant big baddie Toyo Harada, until one day Harada tried to have Solomon killed for disloyalty, and he was forced into hiding.

 

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The first four issues will also feature prologue sequences drawn by Juan Jose Ryp, detailing Solomon's rise to power as Harada's heir apparent. Valiant also announced that Harbinger Renegade is the first stop on the road to 2018's blockbuster event Harbinger Wars 2, so when that series kicks off you can look back to this issue and see where it all started.

Check out preview pages from Juan Jose Ryp and Darick Robertson below, but be warned, it gets pretty gruesome and violent.

 

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Here's the full, original solicitation for Harbinger Renegade #1

HARBINGER RENEGADES #1 (“FUTURE OF VALIANT”)
Written by RAFER ROBERTS
Art by DARICK ROBERTSON
Cover A by DARICK ROBERTSON (SEP162040)
Cover B by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (SEP162041)
Cover C by DAVE JOHNSON (SEP162042)
Cover D by KANO (SEP162043)
Valiant x CGC Variant Cover by PERE PEREZ (SEP162044)
Variant Cover by CLAYTON HENRY (SEP162046)
Variant Cover by BOB LAYTON (SEP162047)
Variant Cover by JIM MAHFOOD (SEP162048)
Blank Cover Also Available (SEP162045)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale NOVEMBER 16 (FOC – 10/23/16)
Six months ago, a secret team of renegade whistleblowers leaked the existence of these extraordinarily dangerous individuals to a stunned world. Today, all across the country, crude, DIY psiot activation attempts have left hundreds brain damaged…or worse. The emergence of a new psiot in a community often leads to riots and mass violence. Gun sales are through the roof.
America is terrified of what could happen next.
With this revolutionary upheaval now in motion, Kris Hathaway, John “Torque” Torkelson, Faith “Zephyr” Herbert, and Peter Stanchek are about to discover their calling. Together, the HARBINGER RENEGADES are moving from town to town, building their ranks, and subverting authority one mind at a time…and setting out to prove once and for all that behind their power, there has always been a purpose.
On November 16th, stoke the flames of a nation on fire as Rafer Roberts and Darick Robertson activate Valiant’s most-demanded team of heroes and misfits in HARBINGER RENEGADES #1– featuring covers by Darick Robertson (Transmetropolitan), Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic (Thor), Dave Johnson (Superman: Red Son), Kano (Daredevil), Pere Perez (FAITH), Clayton Henry (ARCHER & ARMSTRONG), Bob Layton (Iron Man), and Jim Mahfood (Tank Girl)!

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